Centrifugal separating device



July 12, 1955 L. BoLDRxN CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 28, 1952 INVENTOR. u/6/ oLpR//y July 12, 1955 L. BOLDRIN 2,712,896

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING DEVICE med March 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. L u/G/ B01. URIP/ July 12, 1955 L.. BOLDRIN 2,712,896

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /c/E. .S 45

' INVENTOR. as 75 Lwe/ [5a/.amd

United States Patent() QEII. TREE? SEPARATIN G DEVCE Luigi oldrin, Marghera, Italy Ciaims. (Cl. 233-28) There are well known the difficulties encountered in separating and eliminating in a quiclt and sure way the water from gasoline or from other inflammable liquidsand this in spite of their different specific gravityparticularly if the elimination is required during the pumping of gasoline in a pipe line. On the other hand this quick and sure elimination of the water from the gasoline is an unavoidable requirement in the military as Well as in the civil aviation and in emergency cases also for automotive vehicles in general.

It is object of the invention to provide a continuously working device able to solve the above indicated problem. The device is based on the principle of separating by centrifugal action a heavier liquid, such as water and also foreign materials of higher specific gravity from the inflammable liquid having a lower specific gravity.

With the object in View, the present invention mainly consists in a centrifugal separating device for a mixture of a heavier liquid of a lighter liquid, and comprises, in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed with at least one opening; inlet means for a mixture of a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid located at one end of the drum in the region of the. axis of rotation of the same; drive means connected to the drum for rotating the drum whereby the heavier liquid forms an annular body on the inner surface of the wall portion and passes through the opening, and the lighter liquid assumes a position in the region of the axis of rotation of the drum; outlet means for the lighter liquid located in the region of the axis of the drum at the other end of the drum; at least one oater means mounted in the drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial direction between an outer positionV located opposite the wall portion and an inner position, said lloater means being urged by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to oat on the annular body of heavier liquid so as to be moved to the inner position by an excess of heavier liquid; closure means for the outlet means; and motion-transmitting means connecting the floater means with the closure means for operating the latter in such a manner that the outlet means are closed when the floater means arrive in the inner position where- 'oy an excess the ier liquid is prevented from passing through the outlet means.

ln one embodiment of the device there are provided closure means or valves actuated by iloater means which have a specific gravity lower than that of the water to be eliminated, but higher than that of the liquid to be depui-ated. For the event that there are present foreign substances of specific gravity lower than that of the liquid to be depurated and which would therefore pass together with the latter, the device provides filter means formed by an annular diaphragm arranged before the outlet. The outlet opening can be throttled and if necessary closed by means of a gear automatically driven by the iloats, so as to prevent discharge of the water together with the liquid to be depurated, which could occur in ICC the caseof a water excess in the device, which excess would not be able to ow off through the valves. In second embodiment of the invention, a certain amount of water is placed in the device before the start of the operation. g

The obiect of the invention will be illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l a longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention taken on line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are a longitudinal section and a top view respectively, of the detail of a oat and its associated valve on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring nov;I more particularly to the drawing (Figs. l, 2) the device includes a case 1 of nearly cylindrical form and rigidly mounted upon a base 2, Wherefrom the standards 3, 3 extend upwardly and serve as bearing frames for the supports 4, 4 with ball bearings S, 5. The supports carry the ends of the hollow tubular shaft 6, revolving around its own axis and passing longitudinally through the case 1. The rotation of the shaft 6 is obtained by means of the grooved pulley 7 `vhich is connected to shaft for rotation therewith and constitutes a drive means. The ends of shaft 6 are Huid-tightly connected at one side with the connection pipe section 8 of the liquid to be depurated and at the other side with the connection pipe section 9 of the depurated liquid.

A drum ftxedly secured to the shaft 6 is arranged in the case l so as to be able to rotate therein, said drum being formed by a cylindrical part 1l), by two frusto conical parts il, i?. and by a part 13 having the shape of a trunh cated cone, all parts being rigidly connected to each other by screws i4 and welding spots l5. The shaft is provided, at the inlet in the aforesaid casing, with inlet means namely four slots 16 having a total area which is much greater than the inner cross-section of the shaft itself, and through which passes the liquid to be depurated, A transverse partition such as the plug 17 is arranged at the end of said slots 16 and in the interior of the shaft 6, and by closing the direct passage through the shaft, it forces the liquid to ow olf through the slots 16. A transverse dellecting means 18 is arranged at the external part of the shaft 6 and serves to guide the liquid. The deecte ing means l rotate together vwith the blades 19 and with the shaft 6, and thus the heavier foreign substances will assemble in the four chambers formed by the cylindrical part le of the drum and by part 13, passing-through the openings 20 in the part l0. These chambers are provided with plugs 21 for carrying out the removal of the foreign substances assembled therein. The annular wall 22 bounding the chambers is extended towards the shaft 6 at 22' so as to form a partition in order to better hold back the foreign substances. Toythe ends of said exten sion 22 are connected the supports 23 of the guiding arms of the floater means 25 joined thereto and freely movable in the direction of the radius of the cylindrical casing 1l). A valve 26 of leather or other suitable material mounted in each floater means 25 and is housed in a metal seat 27 secured to the external wall of the cylindrical casing part it) of the drum. There is further secured to the upper end of each lloat 2S a rod 2S provided at its upper part with a slot in which the arm 29 of the twoarmed-lever 29, 3i) slides, said lever being pivoted in 31 to the support 32 which is also secured to the cylindrical casing l0. rl`he other arm 30 slides in a similar slot in the support 33 serving to guide the slidable closure means 34, which, being actuated by the floats 25 through motion transmitting means 2S, 29, 30, may throttle or close the slots 3S constituting outlet means in the shaft 6.

, 3 l The way of operation of the valves 26 for discharging the water' and ofi-the' floater means 25 is as follows:

YWhen the liquid torbe depurated enters in theV cylindrical Vpart 10 of the drum,

the valves 26 are normally closed while Vthey open whenytogether with the liquid, water has entered, which, being projected against the wall in consequence of the centrifugal eifect to which the liquid to be depurated is subjected, reaches such a volume as to cause'actuation of the floats 25 and hence of the valves.

Further entering of water in the device will cause a dis-V ;charge of water and when the inner level becomes again normal, the valves 26 areV automatically closed, thus reestablishing the cycle. if for unforeseen causes the water in the device would not be able to discharge through the valves 26 and therefore would cause the level of the water to be raised towards the center of the device, the

Y' mais 26, by raising 'over' their normar position. will displace the arms 29 and 30 causing the sliding piece 34 to slide and thus the outlet slotsy 35 to be closed. In this manner, the outlet opening in the device being closed, the L water excess remaining in the device, passes through the valves 26 and in Vthis way the possibility of a water escape together with the depurated liquid is avoided.

For the case of an unforeseen interruption of thc cer-V trifugalV eect or in the event of a decreasing of the minimumrotary speed necessary for the centrifugal action, in

the interior of the shaft 6, a plug valve or second closure means 36 is arranged in proximity of the outlet slots 35 and is connected to a spiralrspring 37, a lever 38 being secured to the end of said spring. The arms 39, 40 are pivoted to Ysaid lever and are further pivoted to other two arms41, 42 provided with counter weights 43 and 44 respectively, and secured to the fastening ring 45 connected to theshutter 18. The closure Vvalve 36 starts to operate when the device stands still or runs only at a reducedV rotary speed.4 In this case the spring 37 maintains closed the valve 36,V hindering the discharge through the slots 35, while, as soon as the centrifugal force of the counter'weights overcomes'the resistance of the spring 37, and havingV been reached the minimum turn number of the device, the linked lever means formed by the arms 39, 40, 41, 42 exerts a return action on the valve 36, which clears the slots 35.` The positions 37a, 38a, 39a, 40d, 41a,

42av Vindicated by dotted lines are thus obtained. An annular diaphragm is screwed to the shaft 6 before the slots 3S in order to hold back the foreign substances which are lighter than the liquid and which would pass with the liquid itself.

Fig. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention,

which isVV carried out without the valves 26,'and wherein f watermust be put in at the beginning, so as to serve as valves; moreover the device is provided with a centrally bored external conical diaphragm 47 and the conical part 48, permitting the water excess to be discharged as in a normal centrifugal action device. In this embodiment as well the floats have the function of driving the slide piece 34, which is able to 'throttle' or to close the outlet slots 35. I claim: Y Y

Vl. A centrifugal separating device fora mixture of liquidsycomprising, in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed withrat least one opening; inlet means for a mixture of a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid located at one end of said drum in the-region'of the'axis of rotation of the same; drive means connected to said drum for rotating said drum whereby said heavier liquid forms an annular body on 'the inner surface -of said wallV portion and Y passes throughfsaid opening, and said lighter liquid assumes Ya position inthe region of the axis of rotation of said drum; outlet means' for Vthe lighter liquid located in theY region of the axis of said drum at the other end ofl said drum; at least one oater meansmounted in said drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial direc- Y tion between an outer position located opposite said wall l l2 is provided at its periphericalend with a series of holes Y V2,912,896 Y y v. Y c

2. A centrifugal `separating device for a Vmixture of Y liquids, comprising, in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed with at least one opening; inlet means fora mixture of a heavier liquid Iand a lighter liquid located at one end of said drum in the region of the axis of rotation of the same; drive means connected to said drum for rotat-l ing said drum whereby said heavier liquid forms an annular body on the inner surface of said wall portion and passes through ksaid opening, and said ylighter liquid assumes Ya position in the region of the axis of rotation( of said drum; outlet means for the lighter liquid located in the region of the axis of saidV drum at the other end of said drum; at least one tloraterV means mounted'in vsaid drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial'V direction between an outer position located'opposi'te said wall portion and an inner position, said oater means being urged by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to float on said annular body of 'heavier liquid so as yto be moved to said inner portion by an excess of heavier liquid; tirst closure means fork said outlet means; Vmotion-transmitting means connecting said f oater means with said closure means for operating the latter in such manner that said outlet means are closed when said iloater means arrive Vin said 'inner position whereby an excess of said heavier liquid is preventedfrom passing throughrsaid outlet means; second closure means for said outlet means; centrifugal weight means mounted i in said drum yrotatable'with the same Vand izhovable"V in radial direction betweenV an innerposition and an outer position` inaccordance with the rotary speed of said drum; spring means urging said centrifugal weight means into said inner position; and lever means connecting said centrifugal weight means with said second closure means for closing the same when said centrifugal weight means move to said inner position at a reduced rotary speed whereby vpassing of said mixture of liquids through said outlet means is prevented.

3. A centrifugal separating device for amixtureV ofV A liquids,v comprising, in combination, an elongated'rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed with at least one opening; inlet means for armixture of a heavier liquid and'a lighterfliquid located at one end .Y i

of said drum in the region of the axis yof rotation of VtheV same; drive means connected to said drum for rotating said ldrumwhereby said' heavier liquid forms an annu-V lar bodyfon the inner surface Vof said wall portion and passes through said opening, and rsaid lighter liquid assumes a position in the region of the axis of rotation of t said drum; outlet meansfor the lighter liquid locatedin therregion of the axis of said drum at the other end of said drum; at least one floater means mounted in said drum rotatable with the same and mov-able in Yradial Y direction between an outer position locatedl opposite said wall portion and an Vinner position, said floater means being urged by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to Viloat on said annular body of heavier Y liquid so as to be moved to'saidV inner position by an excess of heavier liquid; closure means for said outletl means; motion-transmitting means connecting said floater means with said closure means for operating the latter in such manner that said outlet means are closed when said oater` means arrive in said inner position whereby an excess of said heavier liquid is prevented from passing through said outlet means; valve means for closing said opening in said wall portion, said valve means being connected to said oater means and operated by the same, said floater means closing said valve means in said outer position so as to prevent passing of said lighter liquid through said opening.

4. A centrifugal separating device for a mixture of liquid, comprising, in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed with at least one opening; inlet means for a mixture of a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid located at one end of said drum in the region of the axis of rotation of the same; drive means connected to said drum for rotating said drum whereby said heavier liquid forms an annular body on the inner surface of said wall portion and passes through said opening, and said lighter liquid assumes a position in the region of the axis of rotation of said drum; outlet means for the lighter liquid located in the region of the axis of said drum at the other end of said drum; at least one floater means mounted in said drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial direction between an outer position located opposite said wall portion and an inner position, said floater means being urged by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to float on said annular body of heavier liquid so as to be moved to said inner position by an excess of heavier liquid; first closure means for said outlet means; motion-transmitting means connecting said oater means with said closure means for operating the latter in such manner that said outlet means are closed when said oater means arrive in said inner position whereby yan excess of said heavier liquid is presented from passing through said outlet means; valve means for closing said opening in said wall portion, said valve means being connected to said oater means and operated by the same, said oater means closing said valve means in said outer position so as to prevent passing of said lighter liquid through said opening; second closure means for said outlet means; centrifugal weight means mounted in said drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial direction between an inner position and an outer position in accordance with the rotary speed of said drum; spring means urging said centrifugal weight means into said inner position; and lever means connecting said centrifugal weight means with said second closure means for closing the same when said centrifugal weight means move to said inner position at a reduced rotary speed whereby passing of said mixture of liquids through said outlet means is prevented.

5. A centrifugal device for a mixture of liquids, comprising in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed with at least one opening; a hollow shaft supporting said drum; a transverse partition in the interior of said hollow shaft dividing the same into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, said shaft being formed with inlet means connecting said inlet chamber with the outer surface of the shaft, and located at one end of said rotary drum, said shaft being formed with outlet means connecting said outlet chamber with the outer surface of said shaft and being located at the other end of said drum, said inlet means being adapted to admit a mixture of a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid into said drum; transverse deflecting means projecting outwardly from said shaft between said inlet means and said outlet means; drive means connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and for rotating said drum whereby said heavier liquid forms an annular body on the inner surface of said wall portion and passes through said opening, and said lighter liquid surrounds said shaft and passes through said outlet means and said outlet chamber; at least one iloater means mounted in said drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial direction between an outer position located opposite said wall portion and an inner position, said oater means being urged by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to oat on said annular body of heavier liquid so as to be moved to said inner position by an excess of heavier liquid; closure means for said outlet means; and motion-transmitting means connecting said floater means with said closure means for operating the latter in such manner that said outlet means are closed when said floater means arrive in said inner position whereby an excess of said heavier liquid is prevented from passing through said outlet means. l

6. A centrifugal separating device for a mixture of liquid, comprising, in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located wall portion formed with at least one opening; a hollow shaft supporting said drum; a transverse partition in the interior of said hollow shaft dividing the same into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, said shaft being formed with inlet means connecting said inlet chamber with the outer surface of the shaft and located at one end of said rotary drum, said shaft being formed with outlet means connecting said outlet chamber with the outer surface of said shaft and being located at the other end of said drum, said inlet means being adapted to admit a mixture of a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid into said drum; transverse deflecting means projecting outwardly from said shaft between said inlet means and said outlet means; drive means connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and for rotating said drum whereby said heavier liquid forms an annular body on the inner surface of said wall portion and passes through said opening, and said lighter liquid surrounds said shaft and passes through said outlet means and said outlet chamber; at least one floater means mounted in said drum rotatable with the same and movable in radial direction between an outer position located opposite said wall portion and an inner position, said oater means being urged by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to float on said annular body of heavier liquid so as to be moved to said inner position by an excess of heavier liquid; first closure means for said outlet means; motion-transmitting means connecting said iloater means with said "closure means for operating the latter in such manner that said outlet means are closed when said oater means arrive in said inner position whereby an excess of said heavier liquid is prevented from passing through said outlet means; second closure means for said outlet means; centrifugal weight means mounted in said drum on said shaft rotatable with the same and movable in radial direction between an inner position and an outer position in accordance with the rotary speed of said drum; spring means urging said centrifugal weight means into said inner position; and lever means connecting said centrifugal weight means with said second closure means for closing the same when said centrifugal weight means move to said inner position at a reduced rotary speed whereby passing of said mixture of liquids through said outlet means is prevented.

7. A centrifugal separating device for a mixture of liquid, comprising, in combination, an elongated rotary drum having an outwardly located cylindrical wall portion formed with at least one opening; a hollow shaft supporting said drum; a transverse partition in the interior of said hollow shaft dividing the same into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, said shaft being formed with inlet means connecting said inlet chamber with the outer surface of the shaft and located at one end of said rotary drum; said shaft being formed with outlet means connecting said outlet chamber with the outer surface of said shaft and being located at the other end of said drum, said inlet means being adapted to admit a mixture of a heavier liquid and a lighter liquid into said drum; transverse deflecting means projecting outwardly from said shaft between said inlet means and said outlet means; drive means connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and for rotating said drum whereby said heavier liquid forms an annularbody on the inner surface of said wall portion andY passes through said opening, rand said lighter liquid surrounds said shaft and by centrifugal force to move outwardly and being adapted to float on said annular body of heavier liquid so as to be moved to said inner position by an excess of heavier liquid; rst closure means for said'outlet means; motiontransmitting means connecting said oater means with said closure means for operating the latter in such manner that said outlet means are closed when said oater means arrive in said inner position; valve means for closing said opening in said Wall portion, said valve means being connected to said oater means and operated by the same, said oater means closing said valve means in said outer position so as to prevent Vpassing of said lighter liquid through said opening; second closure means for said outlet means; centrifugal weight means mounted in said drum on Ysaid shaft rotatable with the. same and movable in radial direction between an inner position and an outer position, in accordance with the rotary speed of said drum; spring means urging said centrifugal weight means into said inner position; and lever means connecting said `centrifugal'weight means with said second closure means for closing the same when said centrifugal weight means move `to said innerY position at a reduced rotary speed whereby passing Vof said mixture of liquids through said outlet means is prevented. t Y v v References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 240,175 Pedersen et al Apr. l2, 1881 489,090' Peck n Ian. 3, 1893 489,197V Peck Ian. V3, 1893 1,469,522 MacKaye Oct. 2, 1923 FOREIGN' PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 18, 1878 

